The Riverside Police Department has started an online site for security alarm users to manage their alarms, including buying a permit, paying penalties, and updating contact information for the systems that silently contact police.

More than 13,000 alarm activations were received by dispatchers last year, Officer Ryan Railsback wrote in a news release, “one of the more frequent calls our dispatch center gets.”

And, on average, 97 percent of activations are deemed false alarms, making upkeep of the systems and their contact information important, Railsback wrote.

Alarm permits are required under city code for premises that are owned, rented, or leased. They are a one-time $16 fee.

The online site will let users obtain and pay for the permit as well as update responsible party and contact information. Existing permit holders can link their permit number to their account.

Permitted alarm penalties start at $100 for the third false alarm and can go up to $250 for six or more false responses. It’s steeper for non-permit alarms, $350 for the second false alarm, up to $500 for the sixth false alarm, according to a city website.

For questions about the site, call the Alarm Enforcement Unit at 951-826-5600 or email rpdalarms@riversideca.gov